This chapter presents an essay by W. E. B. Du Bois that discusses certain considerations on the study of the social problems affecting American Negroes. It first cites the lack of scientific inquiry ...
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This chapter presents an essay by W. E. B. Du Bois that discusses certain considerations on the study of the social problems affecting American Negroes. It first cites the lack of scientific inquiry on the group of social phenomena arising from the presence of eight million persons of African descent in America. It then covers the historical development of Negro problems; the necessity for their careful systematic study at the present time; the results of scientific study of the Negro up to this time; and the scope and method which future scientific inquiry should take. It concludes by suggesting the agencies by which this work can best be carried out.Less

The Study of the Negro Problems : 1897

W. E. B. DU BOIS

Published in print: 2014-12-03

This chapter presents an essay by W. E. B. Du Bois that discusses certain considerations on the study of the social problems affecting American Negroes. It first cites the lack of scientific inquiry on the group of social phenomena arising from the presence of eight million persons of African descent in America. It then covers the historical development of Negro problems; the necessity for their careful systematic study at the present time; the results of scientific study of the Negro up to this time; and the scope and method which future scientific inquiry should take. It concludes by suggesting the agencies by which this work can best be carried out.

This chapter examines the issue of death penalty as it relates to social problems in America from a humanist perspective. It begins with some history on executions in the United States, citing ...
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This chapter examines the issue of death penalty as it relates to social problems in America from a humanist perspective. It begins with some history on executions in the United States, citing developments that tended to discourage the death penalty, including the rise of social sciences that led to belief in determinism and more and more serious doubts about the nature of crime and criminality. It then considers some of the factors that played an important role in how the death penalty has been perceived; how death penalty relates to issues such as prisons and drug laws; and the impact of the movement for “victim's rights” on the death penalty debate. The chapter suggests that the number of executions in the United States is more likely to increase than to decrease in the near term.Less

The Death Penalty Debate : A Humanist’s Understanding of America’s Social Problems

Peter Hare

Published in print: 2015-05-01

This chapter examines the issue of death penalty as it relates to social problems in America from a humanist perspective. It begins with some history on executions in the United States, citing developments that tended to discourage the death penalty, including the rise of social sciences that led to belief in determinism and more and more serious doubts about the nature of crime and criminality. It then considers some of the factors that played an important role in how the death penalty has been perceived; how death penalty relates to issues such as prisons and drug laws; and the impact of the movement for “victim's rights” on the death penalty debate. The chapter suggests that the number of executions in the United States is more likely to increase than to decrease in the near term.